Silver and Black Report

The Oakland Raiders cleared salary cap space on Friday with the release of wide receiver Ronald Curry, defensive end Kalimba Edwards and safety Gibril Wilson.

After signing Nnamdi Asomugha to the richest deal ever for a defensive back and retaining Shane Lechler for four more years with a contract that was dubbed “the greatest ever awarded to a punter in the history of the National Football League,” Oakland needed some relief in order to move forward with their off-season maneuvering.

Curry, 29, was expected to be a casualty some time ago, as they saved nearly $2.3 million by taking him off the roster. After posting 117 receptions in two prior seasons, the former 7^th round pick struggled in 2008 with a meager 19 catches for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The wide-out was even benched midway through the season, which left him pondering his future with the team that gave him a chance to develop at wide receiver after starting his career as a quarterback on the scout team.

“It’s like the team gave up on me. You go from playing to getting one or two snaps a game, the decision is being made. I’m going to go out there and continue to work at practice, work at games and once the season’s over, the picture’s pretty clear,” Curry stated after his demotion.

Wilson was one of the major free agents acquired last off-season when the Raiders attempted to solidify the back-end of their secondary.

After winning Super Bowl XLII as a member of the New York Giants,Wilson cashed in on his success and inked a lucrative six-year, $39-million deal with the Silver & Black that included $16 million in guarantees and that would’ve  paid him $19.5 million over the first three years.

Wilson was one of the more outspoken Raiders in 2008, demonstrating good leadership on the field and during the tumultuous end of Lane Kiffin’s stay as head coach.

In November, he opened up and had one of the more compelling thoughts regarding the happenings in Oakland:

This is a soap opera over here, man. If this was New York there would have been about 50 media people around here. This is a soap opera. I just think we need to settle on something. We need to have a vision of where we’re trying to take this team. If you don’t have a vision and you’re just trying to plug in players, then you’re always going to get the same results. We’re not about losing. This is the first team that I’ve been in a situation like this ever since I been playing football. We gotta win. That’s all I’m worried about, getting a win. I’m getting phone calls from friends asking me what’s going on and all that stuff. Right now, to be honest, football’s not even really fun just because of all the losing and stuff. Coming to work is kind of hard. Now dealing with D getting cut and all that stuff…

One thing is losing and another is dealing with all the extra stuff. We have so much on our plate already. To deal with the extra stuff is not healthy for anybody, especially when you’re trying to get a game plan in and you’re trying to know what you’re supposed to do and all that. It’s not a healthy situation at all.

 The 27-year old tallied 96 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2 interceptions in his only season in Silver & Black.

Edwards started 11 contests for the Raiders and compiled 5 sacks. After signing a two-year deal, the 29-year old defensive lineman was scheduled to make $2.25 million in base salary in 2009. 

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

MIAMI, FL – The Miami Dolphins were driving deep into Oakland Raiders territory, as Chad Pennington connected with Ted Ginn on receptions of 9 and 23 yards on their first drive of the second quarter. Ronnie Brown had a run of 21 yards and it appeared that the Dolphins were ready to hit paydirt once again.

But Chris Johnson stripped Brown on a run out of the ‘Wildcat’ formation which was recovered by Gibril Wilson and gave the Raiders the ball at their own 26-yard line.

The Raiders blundered through their next possession, as Cornell Green was flagged to start the drive on a false start and quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo botched a handoff to Darren McFadden and lost 13 yards. On 3^rd and 20, Justin Fargas loss one yard and the Raiders punted.

Miami wasn’t able to move the ball either, as the Raiders picked up their defensive play during the drive. Tommy Kelly and Gibril Wilson combined on a sack and Thomas Howard cut-down Ricky Williams on a short reception that lost 5 yards.

Oakland was the beneficiary of a questionable penalty on their next drive. On 3^rd and 3, Jason Allen was flagged for pass interference when his feel got tangled with Ashley Lelie. The 41-yard penalty was Oakland’s biggest gain in the afternoon to that point, as they had only managed 29-yards of total offense prior to that play.

JaMarcus Russell hooked up with Zach Miller two plays later for 27 yards, setting up the Raiders with a 1^st and goal at the Miami 5-yard line.

But two false start penalties on Kwame Harris and a pitch to McFadden that loss 6 yards had the Raiders going backwards. Miller hauled in a 16-yard toss on 3rd and goal from the 20-yard line. Then Sebastian Janikowski booted a 21-yard field goal to cut the Dolphins lead to 7-3.

ANALYSIS

John Wade has had problems along the interior all afternoon. The starting center has been manhandled at times, which has contributed to ineffective run game. Kwame Harris almost single-handedly killed one Raider drive and Cornell Green has also continued his sub par play. If not for that 41-yard penalty, the Raiders would have not put up any points in the first half. Darren McFadden has not been utilized as expected, especially considering the woes of the offense and his inactivity the last few weeks.  Miami has out gained the Raiders 196-57. With their 7-penalties, it’s a surprise that the are only down 4-points at the half. 

Oakland Raiders safety Gibril Wilson gave his thoughts today regarding the recent happenings for the Silver & Black. Here are some highlights from his press session:

On DeAngelo Hall being a scapegoat:

I think a lot of what happened to D wasn’t his fault. D is a playmaker out there. He’s a good football player. I don’t know if he’s being made a scapegoat or whatever but I know DeAngelo Hall is a good football player. That’s all I know.

Whether teammates are playing on their heels, wondering if they are next:

Me personally I’m not really worried about that. I know what I can do and my coach knows what I can do. Whatever else happens upstairs or wherever it happens, that’s in its own. I’m not worried about making mistakes out there.

That’s definitely not healthy. It makes you play tentative a little bit and that’s not good. That’s not good, where you always have somebody coming down on you that might not really know what the situation is. So that’s definitely not healthy for anybody to go out there and do that.

Initial reaction after hearing the news about Hall:

I was very shocked. I talked to D last night and me and him have the same agent. I thought it was actually going to be me or him. It’s him and it’s just a messed up situation. I don’t know what else more to say. D was a good football player and we needed him. It’s kind of disappointing that we still have eight games to go and we got rid of one of the best corners.

Comparing Oakland to the New York Giants:

This is a soap opera over here, man. If this was New York there would have been about 50 media people around here. This is a soap opera. I just think we need to settle on something. We need to have a vision of where we’re trying to take this team. If you don’t have a vision and you’re just trying to plug in players, then you’re always going to get the same results. We’re not about losing. This is the first team that I’ve been in a situation like this ever since I been playing football. We gotta win. That’s all I’m worried about, getting a win. I’m getting phone calls from friends asking me what’s going on and all that stuff. Right now, to be honest, football’s not even really fun just because of all the losing and stuff. Coming to work is kind of hard. Now dealing with D getting cut and all that stuff…

One thing is losing and another is dealing with all the extra stuff. We have so much on our plate already. To deal with the extra stuff is not healthy for anybody, especially when you’re trying to get a game plan in and you’re trying to know what you’re supposed to do and all that. It’s not a healthy situation at all.

Aftermath of Hall’s cut:

I’ve never been in a situation where you cut one of the best players. That’s strange to me. It’s almost like we’re throwing in the towel. We have eight games to go and we’re two games down in the division. All we need to do is get on a roll in November and the next thing you know we’re right back in this thing. For me, the sense I got was we’re kind of throwing in the towel. There’s still eight games left. You never know what could happen.

Direction and goal:

No. The direction of the franchise should be championship. I mean that’s common knowledge. We ain’t up in here just to collect a check. I would hope everybody’s vision is to get a championship. Not anything else but to get a championship. I’m assuming (laughter) that their thing is championship.

BALTIMORE, MD — It’s no secret what the Baltimore Ravens game plan will be this afternoon when they face the Oakland Raiders.

Run the ball often and productively and hope to keep rookie quarterback Joe Flacco out of situations that the Raiders defense can take advantage of. Last time the Ravens faced the Raiders in 2006, they compiled 138 yards on the ground. Last week, Oakland struggled mightily against the Jets, a team that enjoyed their best rushing effort of 2008.

And with the Raiders allowing 136.2 yards per game on the ground so far this season, there is no doubt that Willis McGahee (293 yards rushing), Le’Ron McClain (281 yards) and Ray Rice (121 yards) will be primed to attack the Oakland front seven.

The Ravens have the 7^th best rushing attack in the league. That is the fuel to an offense that ranks 25^th overall in passing. Sounds familiar? Yeah, just like the Raiders, they depend heavily on their offensive line to pave lanes for their trio of rushers. And both have young passers that still don’t appear ready to shoulder the burden of an offense quite yet.

In this game, the Raiders need to show that the addition of Gibril Wilson will make a difference the rest of the way. That moving Tommy Kelly to tackle and using the rotation of Terdell Sands and Gerard Warren will help slow down opposing ground games. That their secondary is good enough to leave out on a island in coverage as their front seven attempts to build a brick wall at the line of scrimmage.

If they can’t; expect another road loss, another pounding on the ground and yet another missed opportunity to prove that the moves they made in the off-season are the right ones as they move towards the midpoint of the campaign.

NOTE

Last time McGahee faced the Raiders, he was held to 50 yards on 16 carries on October 23, 2005. The then Buffalo Bill was coming off career best 143 yards rushing effort a week prior, and after stating the week leading to the game that he was the best rusher in the league. 

New Orleans, LA – The Oakland Raiders started quickly once again this afternoon, shutting down the New Orleans Saints on their initial possession with a stout three and out and then getting on the board on their opening drive.

Gibril Wilson made key stops on all three of the Saints first plays, one tackle in the open field on a misdirection on 3^rd and 8 that gain 6-yards.

Johnnie Lee Higgins continued his solid start to the season on special teams returning the game’s first punt 35-yards and setting up Oakland’s offense at the New Orleans 39-yard line.

Nine plays later, Oakland had a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. During the drive, JaMarcus Russell hit Ronald Curry on a 2^nd and 8 for 13 yards and then again on a 3^rd and 7 for 11 yards.

On the Saints ensuing possession, Drew Brees connected with Reggie Bush on a 21-yard pass and then with tight end Mark Campbell for 29 yards to set up a scoring opportunity deep in Oakland territory. But Jammal Brown’s two holding penalties thwarted the Saints drive and put them in a daunting 3^rd and 22. On 4^th down, Taylor Mehlhaff’s 31 yard field goal attempt was no good, as costly penalties and mistakes kept the Saints from scoring in the first quarter.

Oakland ended the quarter with the ball and in the midst of a drive that ended in Saints territory. Russell again connected with his targets, hitting Javon Walker on a 3^rd and 5 for 7 yards and again with Curry on a 3^rd and 2 for 8 yards.

Saints missed out on a opportunity to pick off Russell for the second time in the quarter when Randall Gay dropped a near interception on a ball thrown behind Ashley Lelie.

Score at the end of the 1^st quarter: Oakland 3 – New Orleans 0

NOTES:

• Brees ended the 1^st quarter 6/6 for 88 yards
• Curry had 3 grabs for 32 yards 

The first pre-season game is finally here, and after months of starving for football, fans of the Oakland Raiders will finally get their initial glimpse of the Silver & Black on Friday evening against their bay area rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.

Both teams scrimmaged earlier in the week, setting the stage for some heated battles at kickoff. But for the most part, both Lane Kiffin and Mike Nolan will love to see their teams come away from the contest healthy and with a better feel for the players that are on the bubble. Many starters won’t stick around for more than a quarter. So expect a lot of players you never heard of that are striving to become household names looking to make an impression in their first game action.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

After being dinged up earlier in the week, it seems that all signs point to JaMarcus Russell getting on the field for a few drives on Friday night. Last year’s first round draft pick is one player many are eager to see to gauge how far a long he has come since his first football action at the end of the 2007 season.

This year’s first round draft selection – Darren McFadden – will be the focal point for many others. He has shown explosiveness throughout training camp and has all the multidimensional attributes that were raved about prior and during the draft. Will Kiffin utilize him in a diverse way? Will he be in the backfield? Will he be split out at wide receiver? Will he be a decoy in order to get favorable match-ups elsewhere? The answers are yes, yes, yes and yes…

Obviously, not much of the playbook will be exposed in this first game, but the foundation will be built this week so McFadden can start getting in game looks of coverages and what he may encounter in the many looks he’ll be a part of. As the pre-season progresses, the coaches will expand the playbook for McFadden, as they are confident at this point at his ability to digest the varying packages they will utilize in the regular season.

What to expect:

Run baby run. The Oakland offensive line is more adept in their run blocking, so expect the coaches to call a lot of rushes early and often to gain some confidence and showcase the quality of depth in their backfield. It’s imperative this group starts gaining confidence and that they re-establish success on the ground, as they did in 2007. And with Russell now at the helm and very little behind him in terms of experience, giving him as much support and a productive rushing attack will go a long way in his development.

On Defense:

One of the Raiders big acquisitions this off-season may not see a lot of action, if any against the 49ers.

A sore knee has bothered Gibril Wilson, and even though he has delivered big hits on the practice field, Kiffin stated that he does not anticipate seeing the former New York Giant on the field much.

Former Raider and collision master Jack Tatum was on hand during the week, and he was fired up regarding the Silver & Black’s new secondary and how they will try to lay opponents out more often this season. “Good, that’s what we need,” stated the legendary safety.

The realigned and upgraded defensive backfield’s debut has been anticipated since all the major changes during the off-season.

Nnamdi Asomugha has received IV treatment per Kiffin and it is not known how much time he will have on the field. His corner mate DeAngelo Hall on the other hand is primed to make his debut in front of the ‘Black Hole.’

As for others in the secondary; former Kansas City Chiefs Greg Wesley, who has been behind the eight ball in camp may not get much action and cornerback John Bowie will definitely be will be out on Friday.

What to expect:

Linebacker Grant Irons will not play on Friday, but his cohorts Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard will. Both are looking to have huge seasons and continue evolving as well rounded defenders. Both are known for their coverage skills, but it seems like this year, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will have them attacking the line of scrimmage more and getting after opposing passers.

Morrison stated to the Silver & Black report, “One thing we want to do is get more sacks. We only had like one sack apiece last year. And that is just not enough. We want to be good all around linebackers. And that is something we strive for every day.”

On Special Teams:

If you are going to make a squad while in camp, this is the unit where you can make a strong case for your spot.

The Raiders are looking to improve their punt coverage team, as it took a dip dramatically last season as the year wound down.

Ricky Brown, who is making a an impression and may be the leading candidate for the string side linebacker spot, will lead a group that also features Isaiah Ekejiuba, Stanford Routt, Tyvon Branch among many others. Jarrod Cooper’s health will dictate much of what can occur on this unit. So his come back from rehab and leadership will be key. He was also treated this week via IV, missed practice and it is unknown how much time he will see.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

On Offense:

Ok, is it the marquee draft selection, the camp standout or the player that had late momentum going back to last season?

Alex Smith, J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill are in a three-way battle at quarterback that will not be settled after one pre-season game. Head coach Mike Nolan has given the ever popular, “we’ll go with the guy that gives us the best chance to win” line. And after compiling a 16-32 record in his stay in San Francisco, this decision could be a defining moment in his career.

What to expect:

All three quarterbacks will have two targets new to the system; Isaac Bruce (Formerly of the Rams) and Bryant Johnson (Formerly of the Cardinals), along with passing guru Mike Martz, who will try to bring his pass happy, deep route attack by the bay.

If they are serious in finding the best person for the job, Nolan and Martz should open up the playbook and let the passers take aim at the Raiders newly configured, but highly talented secondary.

On Defense:

The 49ers have a few newcomers on defense that are expected to make immediate contributions. Defensive end Justin Smith (Bengals), linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings), and rookie defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer (1^st Round out of North Carolina) will add athleticism, speed and a nice work ethic to a unit that mixes up its fronts, but will be primarily in a 3-4 alignment.

What to expect:

If Dashon Goldson’s ball hawking ways in camp translate to on the field success on Friday, the second year pro may start seeing more action in the San Francisco defensive backfield.

The Niner defense experiments with different looks, one of them in which safety Michael Lewis is at linebacker in a 4-2-5 package to take advantage of his tackling ability and Gholdson’s ability to roam.

“He’s going to get better and better,” commented Nolan this week.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Oakland’s first team Offensive line vs. San Francisco’s first team front-seven

As long as Russell is in, Tom Cable will keep his first unit front out there. The Raiders want to establish a presence on the ground, and more importantly, protect their franchise passer. False starts have been minimized since the start of camp, and at home, you don’t expect the crowd to effect the offense, but it will important to see how they respond to lining up against a defense that can show a lot of looks.

WR vs. WR

The Raiders have an abundance of competition at wide receiver. Todd Watkins seems like a lock to make the team. But with Drew Carter going through a ‘tired’ period and the likes of Chaz Schilens, Johnathan Holland and Arman Shields just to name a few looking for a few spots, whoever makes an impression during live action could have the upper hand as cut time approaches.

GAME TID BITS

• Oakland holds an 18-17 edge in the all-time series. The Niners won last season’s contest, 26-21, at San Francisco.
• Current San Franciscoo G/T Barry Sims played for the Raiders from 1999-2007.
• Raiders John Madsen (TE) and Jesse Boone (C) played with 49ers QB Alex Smith while at Utah.

GAME INFO

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (0-0) Home: 0-0 Road: 0-0

Road Team: San Francisco 49ers (0-0) Home: 0-0 Road: 0-0

When and Where: Friday, August 8, 2008, 7:00 pm PT | McAfee Coliseum, Oakland CA

TV and Radio: Greg Papa and Tom Flores simulcast the game both on the Raiders Radio Network and on the TV broadcast. Raider Legend George Atkinson will serve as analyst and popular radio personality JT the Brick will serve as TV broadcast host. This week’s game will be televised locally on tape-delay on KICU Action 36 Cable 6 on Friday, August 8 at 10 p.m. There will be an encore showing of the game on Saturday, August 9 at 7 p.m. on KICU Action 36 Cable 6. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 11th straight year. (Broadcast information found on the official Raiders web site)

GIBRIL WILSON

• STRONG SAFETY
• No: 28
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 210
• Birth date: 11/12/1981
• College: Tennessee
• Acquired: Signed as an Unrestricted Free Agent during the 2008 off-season (2/29)

Read more…

By Victor Cotto, S&B Report Staff Columnist

As a collegiate in Texas, Michael Huff was an All-America because of his versatility, nose for the football and playmaking ability as a free-safety.

Whether around the line of scrimmage in run support or dropping back in coverage, Huff was able to use his tremendous athleticism to impact the teams he played for.

But since arriving in Oakland as the seventh overall draft pick in 2006, the Raiders have restrained him, limiting his potential and not maximizing his skill set by playing him at strong safety.

Read more…

JaMarcus Russell on the Raiders practice field Thursday 

In this edition of Five Questions & Answers, the Silver & Black Report assesses some of the highlights from the Oakland Raiders’ practice on Thursday. JaMarcus Russell’s development was one topic of conversation during Lane Kiffin’s media meet-up along with his rapport with one of his newest targets. It’s time to give you the skinny on what’s going and what we can expect in the coming weeks.

Read more…

Alameda, Calif. – Oakland Raiders safety Gibril Wilson addressed the media this afternoon after practice. Click on the link below to listen:

Gibril Wilson addresses the media